Senate theatrics over Obama debt limit plan

12/6/12 1:45 PM EST

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on the floor Thursday he planned to call Sen. Mitch McConnell's bluff and hold a vote on the president's proposal to deal with the debt limit.

McConnell had requested a vote on the offer in the morning that included the Obama administration’s offer on resolving the so-called fiscal cliff. It includes a permanent, “unlimited” debt limit hike with no spending cuts attached, along with a provision that would allow Congress to disapprove the debt increase. McConnell said President Barack Obama is “the last person who should have limitless borrowing power.”

In the morning, Reid swiftly objected to the idea. But then, in typical Senate theatrical fashion, Reid changed his mind said he wanted to hold a Thursday afternoon vote. A Democratic aide said the White House coordinated the move with Reid, and the Majority Leader had secured the 51 votes needed to pass the proposal on an up or down vote.

“Senator McConnell made a serious offer dealing with the debt ceiling of this country, one of the most important issues facing the country,” Reid said. “It’s a serious offer. I personally haven’t read it. My staff has looked at it. It’s important enough that I would like to have a vote on it this afternoon.”

“What we’re talking about here is a perpetual debt ceiling grant in effect to the President. Matters of this level of controversy always require 60 votes,” McConnell said. “So I would ask my friend, the Majority Leader, if he would modify his consent agreement.”

Reid said McConnell’s objection was a “case of Republicans refusing to take yes for an answer.”

“This morning the Republican leader asked consent to have a vote on this proposal. Now I told everyone that we are willing to have that vote, up-or-down vote,” Reid said. “Now the Republican leader objects to his own idea. So I guess we have a filibuster of his own bill.”

In a briefing with reporters, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Senate Democrats had 51 votes “at a minimum” to pass the proposal.

“Senator McConnell’s usually very astute political radar is off today,” Schumer added.